Kelly Johnson, Realtor

09/04/2026

Fun fact that trips up almost every buyer I work with: Tetherow and Broken Top look and feel like NW Bend, all the pines and golf course views, but they're actually both classified as SW Bend. Broken Top even has an official line to prove it, it sits west of the Farewell Bend bridge.

It's not just trivia either. Search "NW Bend" and you'll miss both of them entirely. And if you're comparing prices, SW Bend through these two neighborhoods is honestly the better deal for a mountain view than NW Bend is.

Anyone else assumed these were NW Bend until someone corrected you? More on the actual line here: https://gobendhomes.com/blog/are-tetherow-and-broken-top-nw-bend-or-sw-bend-oregon/

09/04/2026

Here's a number that stopped me the first time I heard it: homes in Sunrise Village average almost 5,000 square feet, more than double the Deschutes County average. It's a gated, riverfront neighborhood on Bend's west side built for buyers who want real space and privacy, with a pool, hot tub, tennis courts, and a clubhouse thrown in.

It's not for everyone. If you want to walk to coffee, this isn't your spot. But if you're moving here from a bigger property and worried you'll have to shrink your whole life to fit a mountain town, I wanted you to know this exists.

Anyone else picture Bend as smaller than it actually is until they start looking? Full write-up here: https://gobendhomes.com/blog/what-is-sunrise-village-bend-oregon-like-to-live-in/

09/04/2026

Don't Forget About These Upcoming Fall Maintenance Tasks
Fall has a way of sneaking by faster than expected, so it helps to know which home maintenance jobs should be on your list before the season arrives. Most of what's below can be handled fairly quickly, though a few jobs may require scheduling a professional. Tackling these tasks throughout the fall can...

A few weeks of preparation before winter can make all the difference. Here's what to check around your home this fall before the cold weather settles in.

09/04/2026

What Buyers Should Know About Neighborhood Development Plans
When searching for real estate, don't forget that the property you're considering buying and the surrounding area may change dramatically over the years. Looking into future development plans can help you avoid surprises, such as buying near a major construction project or a new commercial development.
Where...

Before you buy, it helps to find out what's planned nearby. Development plans can shape your daily life and your home's future value, so it pays to check.

09/03/2026

Had a couple almost buy a Tetherow home this year sight unseen, before I took them to see it in person and we found the "view" was actually the neighbor's roofline. Same price as homes with a real Cascade view a few doors down.

That's the thing about Tetherow right now. The market's slower than it was a couple years ago, so buyers actually have time to be picky, and that matters because not every home in that community is the same purchase even if they share the same zip code.

Anyone else been tempted to skip the in-person walkthrough because a listing photo looked perfect? More on what actually holds value there in 2026 here: https://gobendhomes.com/blog/is-tetherow-bend-oregon-still-a-good-buy-in-2026/

09/03/2026

Noticed some orange cones around NW Bend lately? The city just put $4.34 million into street preservation this year, and NW Bend got a real chunk of it: chipseal on Mt. Washington Drive, Olney, Revere, and Purcell, plus that new roundabout out on Skyliners.

I know construction feels like a headache in the moment, but honestly I take it as a good sign. Cities don't spend that kind of money on streets they've written off.

Anyone else driven past the Skyliners roundabout and wondered what finally prompted it? More on what's happening and why it matters here: https://gobendhomes.com/blog/whats-being-built-and-improved-in-nw-bend-oregon-right-now/

09/02/2026

A few NW Bend neighborhoods put you close enough to Shevlin Park that Phil's Trail becomes a spontaneous after-dinner walk instead of something you plan a whole Saturday around. Tumalo Creek is right there too for swimming or fly fishing on a random weeknight, and Tumalo Falls is the day trip almost everyone here ends up taking eventually.

I pulled together everything I know about which neighborhoods actually give you this, the Shevlin cluster, Summit West, Saddleback, The Tree Farm, and what it realistically costs to buy in.

Anyone else pick their neighborhood in Bend based on trail access more than square footage? Full guide here: https://gobendhomes.com/blog/whats-it-like-to-live-near-shevlin-park-and-phils-trail-in-nw-bend-oregon/

09/02/2026

If you're house hunting in NW Bend with kids, here's something that surprises a lot of families: almost the entire west side feeds into the same high school, Summit. The real detail worth checking is elementary and middle school, since those boundaries run block by block and can shift as a neighborhood grows.

I went through NorthWest Crossing, Discovery West, Awbrey Butte, the Shevlin cluster, The Tree Farm, and Saddleback one by one and wrote up what I actually tell families about each.

Anyone else find the school boundary maps more confusing than the house hunt itself? Full guide here: https://gobendhomes.com/blog/what-are-the-best-schools-for-families-in-nw-bend-oregon/

09/01/2026

I just finished writing about every neighborhood in NW Bend's Shevlin cluster, and I saved the smallest one for last. Shevlin Court is only 15 homes, tucked near Shevlin Park with a walking path right into it.

No clubhouse, no long amenity list, just the park and a whole lot of quiet. Homes here almost never come up for sale, which is exactly why most people driving through have never noticed it.

Have you driven past this pocket of NW Bend without realizing it had its own name? I wrote up the full picture, how it compares to Ridge, Commons, Meadows, Estates, and Reserve, here: https://gobendhomes.com/blog/what-is-shevlin-court-bend-oregon-like-to-live-in/

09/01/2026

There is a NW Bend street most people don't even know exists. Shevlin Reserve is only 16 homes, tucked into the Shevlin cluster near Shevlin Park, with a walk-out path right into the park itself.

No clubhouse, no long amenity list, just the park and a lot of quiet. I show this one to buyers who tell me they want to feel a little tucked away without actually leaving NW Bend, and it is almost always the smallest neighborhood on the tour that surprises them most.

Would you trade a longer wait for the right listing if it meant a street this quiet? More on Shevlin Reserve here: https://gobendhomes.com/blog/what-is-shevlin-reserve-bend-oregon-like-to-live-in/